Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. KJV
SAVED WITHOUT WORKS FOR GOOD WORKS
Our redemption was paid fully by Christ. We didn't work for it because we don't have to. If we try to work for it, we won't be able to pay for it. The price is just too high for any human to pay because: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"(Rom 3:23 KJV).
We lack the spiritual capacity to purchase our own redemption because of the inherent sin nature that was passed to us through Adam: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Rom5:12).
Though (good)works cannot earn salvation and couldn't have given us the gift of eternal life, yet we are saved to produce good works( Godly living) that is pleasing unto God. The good works of righteous living, purity and holiness is expected of everyone that is saved. Living in sin and still claiming to be saved puts a great question mark on the genuiness of your salvation. Salvation and sinful lifestyle doesn't mix.
Babies don't come to the world on their own volition. Some persons paid the price for their coming into the world. The action of two people ( husband and wife) brought them into the world. Nothing is expected of a foetus in the womb but the moment they come into the world, the journey of responsibility begins. A child is expected to grow from dependence to independence, from childishness to maturity. This illustration points to what is expected of us after salvation.
Now that you're in God's family, good works( Godly living) is expected of you. It should be a life style. In the opening text, Paul said 'God hath ordained us to walk( present continuous tense in Greek) in them'. Our daily walk is expected to be in godliness. That's the essence of our salvation.
That Christ-like character is what God expect from you now that you're saved. That is the good works you're expected to walk in. The power to live right is in you already. The gift of righteousness that you received from Christ is the empowerment to live right.
You can bask in the euphoria of being saved by grace( which is true) but God is calling you and me to a place of responsibility as sons or else we'll slip into libertinism.
Some persons do not like messages on holiness because they think it encourages legalism and works. I wonder what Jesus meant and intended when he brought stern warning and sharp rebuke to some of the churches in the book of Revelation chapters 2&3. Is that also legalism?
A generation that thinks the grace of God condones or overlook sinful lifestyle is a lost generation. Titus 2:11-12 says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] TEACHING US THAT DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY in this present world;".
What has God's grace taught you since you gave your life to Christ? Any difference between your old life and the new life that you profess?
Your faith in the finished work of Christ that brought you into salvation must produce righteousness (good deeds): "So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless"(James2:17 NLT).
Father, I receive the grace to abound in good work in Jesus name.